Постковидные состояния у детей

Abstract

Objective. To study the clinical and laboratory characteristics of post-COVID conditions in children. Patients and methods. A total of 78 children aged 10 months to 15 years with a history of COVID-19 were examined. The study group included 43 children with post-COVID syndrome, the comparison group – 35 patients without its symptoms. Results. Post-COVID conditions were recorded in 55% (43/78) of children, more frequently in girls – 58.1% (25) and 37.1% (13), p = 0.065. In the study group, children commonly had moderate COVID-19 – 10 (23.3%) and 5 (14.3%); in the comparison group, a mildly symptomatic course prevailed – 12 (34.3%) and 7 (16.3%), p = 0.161. Patient complaints in the study group were skin rashes in 34.9% (14), recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) in 25.6% (11), subfebrile temperature in 20.9% (9), common symptoms in 16.3% (7), recurrent orofacial herpes in 18.6% (8), neutropenia in 11.6% (5); 3 patients had debut of arrhythmia and 3 had debut of epilepsy. Reactivation of herpesvirus infections after COVID-19 was registered in 22 (51.2%) children in the study group and in 9 (25.7%) in the comparison group, p = 0.022. Meglumine acridone acetate (Cycloferon®) was prescribed to 25 children with reactivated herpesvirus infections. After treatment, clinical improvement was achieved in 20 patients: 13 in the study group and 7 in the comparison group. Conclusion. Post-COVID conditions were detected in 55% of children and were more often manifested as skin rashes (34.9%), RRIs (25.6%), prolonged subfebrile temperature (20.9%), recurrent orofacial herpes (18.6%). Cycloferon® is effective in children with reactivation of herpesvirus infections in the post-COVID period. Key words: herpesvirus infections, children, meglumine acridone acetate, post-COVID conditions